We’ve been so hyped up about Their There that we wrote an article just to talk about the specialty flavours. Turns out, if you want our attention, all you have to do is put ‘Froot Loops’, ‘Mochi’ and ‘Donuts’ together and actually bring the flavour to back it up. Word to the wise- this sounds relatively easy, but boy howdy do we know a lot of TLC goes into each donut here.

Lee’s Donuts is a Vancouver icon, and for very good reason. Sitting prominently in the Granville Island Public Market, they’ve been a must-try spot for tourists, residents and celebrities alike for decades. And, we saw more collaborative efforts from them these past few months than ever before. Using your status to help nearby and local businesses? Now that’s a great move.

A relatively new name in the city, Mello has opted for a pretty specific type of donut- brioche, and essentially all the filled versions. What that means for us is an array of some delicious flavours, ranging from London Fog to Black Sesame and classic Strawberry. Pro tip- you get a pretty serious discount buying a half-dozen, so maybe take these to your next small dinner party as dessert.

Mochido is actually the newest name on this list, having only opened earlier this year! They’ve already made some waves thanks to their super interesting ‘mochi donut’, which is like a bunch of little interconnected balls. We have to admit, these folks might get the nod for ‘coolest looking’ on our list of best donuts in Vancouver.

Next up we’ve got a couple of spots we’ll call modern classics. This longtime brand from 49th Parallel is no joke, turning out a variety of amazing donuts using all kinds of doughs. Personally, our preferences are their old-fashioned and yeast-based donuts. And specifically, we can’t help but go back to the PB&J option, which is honestly done to perfection.

On the flipside, Cartems has, in our minds, become the top dog of cake donuts. We seriously don’t think we’ve had a better one in our lives than their Earl Grey option, at least for our preferences. What’s more, we also won’t hesitate to say that they’ve got some of the best vegan donuts in Vancouver to boot, especially since there’s an Earl Grey version of that, too.

Swiss Bakery gets a spot on this list for one specific reason- their ‘frissant’. This cross between a fritter donut and a croissant is unlike anything else you’ll try in the city, and is oh so worth it. And, as if the frissant alone isn’t enough, you get to choose a filling for inside there. Right now, we’re particularly curious about the passion fruit mousse option.

We couldn’t write a list of the best donuts in Vancouver without including this absolute titan. We’re not going to sit here and say it’s off the charts, flavour-wise. But, there’s no denying that Duffin’s is a magical place in Vancouver, has a tremendous range of donuts to choose from, and the best value in the city by far. If you don’t go to Duffin’s once a year, then you need to rethink why you’re in Vancouver in the first place. We’re sorry, but it’s true.

Breka is more than a tourist spot and a late-night study option for university students. For 15 years now, the bakery has been serving great donuts (starting at $1.50) alongside a whole bunch of other reasonably priced items. But, this is a donut list, and they deserve a spot on here. We’ll also admit that for a post-concert donut (whenever that actually happens) finding a Breka outpost is usually easier than making the trek to Duffin’s.

These last two picks are technically more the best donuts in Metro Vancouver, but we’re including them. Harmony Donut Shop has become an absolute must-visit spot for everyone trying to complete this city’s donut tour. Selling out almost daily, Harmony has built a name for itself on some truly amazing cake donuts, and is well worth the trek to Lonsdale Avenue. Or, pick them up after a quick hike in the North Shore!